Visitor Locations
- Portrait of a Doomed Asteroid
A new study provides a possible explanation of mysterious X-ray flares detected by the Chandra K-ray Observatory for several years in the region of Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*. The study suggests a cloud around Sgr A*, a supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, which contains hundreds of trillions of asteroids and comets that have been stripped from their parent stars. The flares occur when asteroids of six miles or larger in radius are consumed by the black hole. An asteroid that undergoes a close encounter with another object, such as a star or planet, can be thrown into an orbit headed towards Sgr A*. If the asteroid passes within about 100 million miles of the black hole, roughly the distance between the Earth and the sun, it is torn into pieces by the tidal forces from the black hole. These fragments would then be vaporized by friction as they pass through the hot, thin gas flowing onto Sgr A*, similar to a meteor heating up and glowing as it falls through Earth's atmosphere. A flare is produced and eventually the remains of the asteroid are swallowed by the black hole. Image Credit: Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
Read More
Monthly Archives: November 2008
Valour IT – 2
It’s time, again to refill the coffers. You have all seen yesterday’s intro to Valour IT. This is one of the charity events that I feel attached to. So it’s time to get it rolling. As Doc Russia, the Marine … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Musical Interlude
A bit of a musical interlude to get the day going on the right track. The Blues Brothers – Everybody Needs Somebody (Original )
Posted in Music
Leave a comment
Today’s Quote
From the November issue of the U.S. Naval Institute’s Proceedings magazine “Marine Corps Issue” – Our enemies know that the only Americans who can or need be beaten do not wear uniforms. A society that does not have the will … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, USMC
Leave a comment
Valour IT
It is that time of year again, and I know that everyone is anxious about where this economy is going. It’s hard to write a fundraising post when that anxiety exists. But we still have an opportunity to make a … Continue reading
Posted in Heroes
Leave a comment
Veteran’s Day 2008
It has been said many times, in many ways. It never changes, this country was founded in conflict. Over the years we have defended our rights, our freedoms, our values, and our way of life around the globe. In every … Continue reading
Posted in Heroes, History, Holidays, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Our Corps! Lex gives us a great version of our celebration here. My favorite part… Pound for pound, one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever seen, and a great team to have on your … Continue reading
Posted in Marine Sites, USMC
Leave a comment
Friday Quiz Time
Your result for The Cowboy-Ninja-Pirate-Knight Test… a Man with No Name You scored 11 Honor, 2 Justice, 7 Adventure, and 4 Individuality! It’s one thing to be a gunslinger. It’s another to wander into town, leave nothing but a trail … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Idaho
Here’s an interesting piece from a UK writer. I covers his visit to a small Idaho town out west. They tell me that about one person in 50 on the streets of Moscow, Idaho, is legally carrying a concealed pistol. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Gun Control
1 Comment
The Day After
So we march down the path of socialism. As a Republic we have survived some horrific political leadership in the past. We will survive this as well, and we will recover. In the interim:
Posted in Presidential Politics
Leave a comment